2015 – the Year of the Goat. To many, it will also be the ‘Year of the Sneeze’.
Hayfever is something many suffer from now and again, and yet this summer, sneezing has become for many a part of our daily routine as brushing teeth. After a recent dental x-ray revealed more about the state of my sinuses than my teeth, I decided to take a look into what triggers seasonal allergies, why this is happening now as an adult and what can be done to prevent or alleviate the symptoms. If the number of people I have encountered this summer who are suffering with symptoms is anything to go by – it seems to be far more prevalent than I thought and definitely on the rise.
What is Hayfever?
Most of us know that hayfever is neither caused by hay, nor does it cause a fever - the correct name is ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis’ and is caused by the nose and/or eyes coming into contact with environmental allergen(s), such as pollens, dust mites, moulds and animal hair. The reaction is caused by the body's immune response, resulting in chronic inflammation of the eyes and nasal passages. This has more of an impact in Australia during spring and early summer than at other times of the year.
Symptoms – is it a cold or is it hayfever?
Whilst some of these symptoms may be similar to those caused by infection (e.g. colds and flu), allergy symptoms tend to be persistent unless they are treated. While you'll get the sniffles with both a cold and hayfever, itchiness is one symptom of hayfever which isn't typical in a cold. So if your eyes, nose, throat or ears are itchy, chances are it's hayfever.
Immediate symptoms of hayfever
- Runny nose
- Rubbing of the nose
- Itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
If the basic symptoms weren’t bad enough, the complications of allergic rhinitis can be debilitating if left untreated:
- Sleep disturbance & daytime tiredness
- Headaches
- Poor concentration
- Recurrent ear infections in children, sinus infections in adults
- Asthma
Seasonal allergies & asthma
For people with asthma, the high pollen levels in the air can aggravate their symptoms. In the case of asthma, the lungs are affected, bringing on the typical asthma symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and difficulty in breathing.
Major thunderstorms often worsen symptoms due to the combination of pollen, moisture and rapid changes in air pressure. This leads to the bursting of pollen grains creating much smaller particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs (pollen itself is too large to be inhaled into the lungs). This can cause serious asthma attacks in those who have not taken their asthma medication.
For those who suffer seasonal asthma, it is important to carry your asthma medication with you at all times, even when you are feeling well. Other preventative measures listed below may also help.
Preventative Measures
- It goes without saying, but avoid being in grassy areas when possible, mowing the lawn or any gardening
- Wearing sunglasses can stop pollen getting in your eyes
- Change your clothes and shower after being outdoors to help remove the pollen on your body
- If possible, avoid drying clothes outside
- Rubbing a small amount of Vaseline inside your lower nostrils can help prevent pollen from entering your nasal passages
- Keep windows and doors shut in the house
- Keep car windows closed. You can buy a pollen filter for car air vents or use recirculated air in the car
- Don't keep fresh flowers in the house
- Vacuum regularly and dust with a wet cloth to help stop pollen from spreading
- Don't smoke or let other people smoke in your house. It irritates the lining of your nose; eyes, throat and airways, and can make your symptoms worse.
- Check the plants in your own garden – there might be something growing that is aggravating your asthma or hayfever (see our list below) or consider planting a low allergen garden around the home
Take a look in your garden: Plants to avoid
Most of the troublesome pollen is produced by airborne grass, tree and weed pollen. Pollen from pasture grasses or exotic & imported trees, (which are planted for their colours), are also more allergenic than pollen from Australian native grasses and trees. A number of weeds with highly allergenic pollen include:
- Pellitory weed (commonly known as asthma weed) is found mainly in Sydney
- Paterson's Curse is an attractive flowering plant that has taken over large areas in rural Australia and produces highly allergenic pollen
- Ragweed and Parthenium weed were introduced from the United States. They have spread throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales
- Ryegrass — used in lawns, produces a large amount of pollen that can be blown long distances in the wind
- The pollen of some native species, such as native pine trees (she-oaks) can also trigger asthma symptoms
